Preface 



HE preparation of the Annual Report of the 

 Commission, in this enlarged or supple- 

 mentary form, requires so much time and 

 care that its publication has been delayed beyond 

 the date which appears on the title page. It has 

 been the custom of the Commission to issue its 

 Annual Report promptly in January of each year 

 as required by law, but in pamphlet form, con- 

 taining the usual financial statement and a brief 

 record of the more important work accomplished, 

 together with such suggestions or recommenda- 

 tions for further legislation as seemed advisable. 

 This pamphlet was followed in time by the 

 larger, supplementary volume, bound in cloth, 

 containing additional articles and illustrations of 

 a character pertinent to the various lines 

 of work and interests included within the scope 

 and province of the Commission. The department official to whom is entrusted 

 the work of collecting and editing the material for this larger volume, together 

 with the selection of the illustrations, is unable to devote any time to the work 

 except such spare intervals as may occur while attending to his regular duties, 

 after which the State printer must have the time necessary for the production 

 of a book of this character and the artistic colored illustrations that accompany 

 the text. For these reasons the publication of the large illustrated quartos 

 containing the final or supplementary reports have been delayed so much 

 that it has become necessary to include the Eighth and Ninth Reports of 

 the Forest, Fish and Game Commission in one volume, as presented here. 

 Hereafter, if the Legislature decides that the publication of these amplified, 

 illustrated reports shall be continued, the volume should be issued biennially 

 and include two years in one binding. 



ii 



